Befriending Death and Living An Authentic Existence — Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, I found myself contemplating my own death. The pandemic took us all by surprise and wreaked havoc on our lives. In the past year, I wasn’t so afraid of it. Yes, infections rose day by day, but recovery rates are far higher than death tolls…

How Something Can Be More Beautiful For Being Broken — During my college days, I found Eastern Philosophy disorganized and hard to follow. I wasn’t fond of the subject because I found their ideas too simplistic. Unlike Western philosophy, where thinkers investigate the nature of truth, Eastern philosophy feels like a self-help section rather than actual philosophizing. My thoughts on…

An idea that can renew our life and perspective. — A common belief about human psychology is what happens in our early life determines the kind of person we will be as adults. When one has been given a nourishing environment, one will grow empathetic and level-headed. However, if one experienced abuse, one will become delinquent and depressive. While it’s…

On Learning To Walk Again — INTRODUCTION & PLOT Garden of Words follows Yukari Yukino, a 27-year-old high school teacher, and Takao Akizuki, a 15-year-old high school student, as they cope with the mental strains of their situations. On a rainy morning, Takao Akizuki, an aspiring shoemaker, skips class to sketch designs in a garden. …

On Accepting Whatever Happens — INTRODUCTION “If only I could … I would finally be happy.” Most, if not all of us, have fallen into this kind of thinking. We associate the attainment of our desires as the remedy to our dissatisfaction. Most of the time, however, we end up unfulfilled even if we get what…

On Being The Best Like No One Ever Was — INTRODUCTION Last December, it was announced that Ash would leave Pokémon after 25 years as its main protagonist, and the series would have new main characters. While this announcement roused poignant feelings, I’m grateful for the times I journeyed with Ash, Pikachu, and the gang. I don’t remember when I stopped…

What’s next? — INTRODUCTION On this day, two years ago, I made this anime-dedicated medium publication, Anime Thoughts. The idea to start this publication came to me one evening in my parent’s bedroom. At the height of the pandemic, I resorted to anime for enjoyment, and little did I know that the stories I…

On Living To Find The Answer — INTRODUCTION Two years have passed since I first stumbled upon Run With The Wind. I wrote about it before because its message — that we can always start anew despite where we are, stirred something in me. Recently, fear, crisis, and loss have left me paralyzed and helpless. …

On Leaving The Past Behind — INTRODUCTION It’s been two years since I first watched and wrote about Run With The Wind. I was deeply moved by it because of its message that we can always start over despite where we are. Recently, I’m fazed with so much fear, crisis, and loss, and I became paralyzed and…